Team highlights: Thirty-two consecutive victories to open the season, including the championship of the Proviso West tournament. The Pirates scored more than 80 points nine times and 90 or more four times.

FYI: His success playing alongside other top guards bodes well for his future. His AAU backcourt mate was another first team All-State selection, North Chicago's Aaron Simpson.

Repeated: "Keith Carter is the engine that makes that team go. We knew we had to stop Carter to beat Proviso East." — Simeon coach Robert Smith.

Jabari Parker

High school: Simeon.

Class: Junior.

College: Undecided.

Position: Forward.

Height: 6-8.

Team highlights: Cool under pressure, Simeon rallied from a five-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat Proviso East 50-48 in the 4A final for its third consecutive state championship. The Wolverines went 33-1 and did not lose to an Illinois team.

Individual highlights: Not one to pad his statistics unnecessarily, Parker averaged 19.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 3.3 blocks and 1.4 steals. More importantly, he came through with whatever Simeon needed whenever it was in a pinch.

FYI: It was common to see big-time college coaches like John Calipari and Mike Krzyzewski in attendance at Simeon games to recruit the No. 1 junior in the country.

Repeated: "He's definitely a phenomenal player. He's definitely a one-and-done guy if that's the path of his choice. He's going to be a great NBA player. I think he has a great head on his shoulders. I respect the heck out of that guy. He does it the right away. He doesn't try to disrespect anybody. I think he's going to be a phenomenal player next year and obviously quite a few years after that." — Evanston coach Mike Ellis.

Aaron Simpson

High school: North Chicago.

Class: Senior.

College: Illinois State.

Position: Guard.

Height: 5-11.

Team highlights: The Warhawks reached the 3A state final in their second straight trip downstate, beating Springfield Lanphier 74-67 in a semifinal before falling 72-64 to Peoria Central in the title game.

Individual highlights: He scored at least 30 points on 11 occasions and had 49 against Wauconda on Feb. 10.

FYI: He's North Chicago's all-time leading scorer with more than 2,000 career points.

Repeated: "I was waiting on him ever since he was in sixth grade. To coach him for four years was awesome. I don't see another player capable of playing like Simpson. When he is on the floor, we know we have 25 before tipoff." — North Chicago coach Gerald Coleman.

Steve Taylor

High school: Simeon.

Class: Senior.

College: Marquette.

Position: Forward.

Height: 6-8.

Team highlights: In addition to its third straight 4A state championship, Simeon overcame loaded fields to capture the Pontiac and Public League tournaments. The Wolverines went 63-3 in Taylor's two years as a starter.

Individual highlights: Simeon would have been in trouble in Peoria without Taylor's work on the boards. He had 13 rebounds in the 45-35 semifinal victory over Bloom and 15 in the state final against Proviso East. He averaged 17 points and nine rebounds.

FYI: The 28 rebounds he grabbed in Peoria were more than he had in any two games all season.

Repeated: "Late in the game I wish I made a quicker move to slow down Steve Taylor. I thought he did a great job in the fourth quarter willing his team." — Proviso East coach Donnie Boyce.

Fred Van Vleet

High school: Rockford Auburn.

Class: Senior.

College: Wichita State.

Position: Guard.

Height: 6-0.

Team highlights: A 49-43 upset of Warren in a 4A supersectional was Auburn's 22nd consecutive victory and gave the school its first state-tournament appearance since 1975. The team went 32-3 – with two of the losses coming to Proviso East.

Individual highlights: He put Auburn on his back in the postseason, scoring 94 of the team's 178 points in the sectionals and supersectional.

FYI: An excellent student, he carried a 3.8 grade-point average into his senior year.

Repeated: "He has done a great job of getting other people involved and making them better than they are sometimes. He has matured into the type of player that understands that as the best player on his team there are times that he has to take over. And there are moments. And he usually picks the right ones. That's what a great player does." — Rockford Auburn coach Bryan Ott.